ILOILO City – The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center’s planning service has received an unsolicited proposal for the proposed Iloilo-Capiz-Aklan Expressway (ICAEx).
The PPP Center provided an update on the project during the Regional Development Council (RDC) meeting presided over by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on February 13 at Casa Real de Iloilo.
“There has been a submission for review (but) it hasn’t been fully discussed yet…It will take time for development, as it is still under review by the PPP planning service,” said Engr. Sanny Boy Oropel, director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 6.
He, however, said he was unaware of either the project timeline or the identity of the project proponent, pointing out that at this stage DPWH-6 has no role yet in the project.
President Marcos called for the fast-tracking of big-ticket projects in the region during the RDC meeting.
The ICAEx is proposed as a full-access controlled toll expressway, spanning 210 kilometers and featuring four lanes, elevated roadways, viaducts, a tunnel, and a long-span bridge.
It will traverse 20 municipalities across the provinces of Iloilo, Capiz, and Aklan.
In August 2022, officials from the DPWH-PPP Service, led by Director Alex G. Bote, presented the proposed project to Iloilo governor Arthur Defensor Jr., who welcomed the initiative to improve connectivity between the provinces.
“This is what we want, a well-planned transport system,” said Defensor.
Bote noted that the project is included in the list of priority projects proposed for implementation through the PPP scheme, in accordance with Republic Act No. 7718 (Build-Operate-and-Transfer [BOT] Law).
The objectives of the ICAEx include:
* reducing travel time between the provinces of Iloilo, Capiz, and Aklan
* eliminating congestion on existing highways by bypassing choke points in town centers
* enhancing the logistics network to facilitate the smooth delivery of goods
* improving emergency response times during flooding caused by adverse weather
* providing opportunities for tourism development across various attractions in Panay/PN
